Adjustable chair



(No Model.) 3 SheetsSheet 1.

0. 0. WHITE. ADJUSTABLE CHAIR.

No. 461,928. Patented Oct. 27, 1891.

MJY EEEEE JQW/E ZUz' (No Model.) 3 Sheets-Sheet 2.

0. 0. WHITE.

ADJUSTABLE CHAIR.

No. 461,928. Patented 0013.27, 1891.

(No Model.) .3 Sheets-Shem: 3.

0. 0. WHITE. 7 I

ADJUSTABLE CHAIR.

No. 461,928. Patented 00t.27, 1891.

NTTED STATES PATENT rricn.

OTIS C. \VHITE, OF TVORCESTER, MASSACHUSET S.

ADJ USTABLE CHAl R.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 461,928, dated October 27, 1891.

Application filed June 26, 1890. Serial No. 356,887. (No model.)

To all whom, it may concern.-

Be it known that I, OTIS C. \VHITE, a citizen of the United States, residing at Vorcester, in the county of \Vorcester and State of Massachusetts, have invented a new and useful Adjustable Chair, of which the following, together with the accompanying drawings, is a specification sufficiently full, clear, and exact to enable persons skilled in the art to which this invention appertains to make and use the same.

The prime object of my present invention is to provide a chair having convenient and efficient facilities for the adjustment of its various parts to accommodate different poses and positions of the subject in photographic sittings and for different sizes and ages of people.

Another object is to afford a chair-standard having a part of itsfoot hinged in the manner described to permit the base to accommodate itself to and stand firmly upon an uneven floor.

Another object is to provide an adjustable and convertible back-support of improved construction; also, to afford in connection therewith a detachable adjustable hea l-rest and convenient means for securing the adjustable parts at any desired position.

Another object is to provide a chair with an arm (or arms) having facilities for lateral adj ustmentrelatively to the chair-seat; also to afford facilities for effecting vertical, horizontally-rotative, and extensible adjustment of the arms, as hereinafter explained.

Another object is to provide an improved mechanism for holding the rotatable elevating-spindle in a chair-base standard, whereby said spindle can be secured and released, as hereinafter specified.'

These objects I attain by mechanism the nature, construction, and operation of which are explained in the following description, the particularsubj cot-matter claimed being hereinafter specified.

In the drawings, Figure 1 is a side View of my improved photographic chair. Fig. 2 is a plan View of the head-rest. Fig. 3 is a perspective view of the back-cushion attachment with the head-rest support removed. Fig. at is a plan View of the back attachment with the head-rest support thereon. Fig. 5 is a horizontal section of the back. Fig. 6 is a bottom view of the seat and its connections. Fig. 7 is a bottom view of the base. Fig. Sis a rear view showing the base-standard in section and with the back and arm support rods removed. Fig. 9 is a vertical section of the sectional clutch-ring and binder for retaining the seat-spindle from rotation. Fig. 10 is a plan View of the sectional clutch-ring separately. Fig. 11 is a bottom view of one of the arms. Figs. 12, 13, and 14 are plan views showing some of the various adjustments of the arms, and Fig. 15 is a side View showing a modificationin the adjustable arm-supporter.

Referringto the parts,Adenotes the seat or upholstered body of the chair, provided with a metal frame or spider A, having a central boss, in which is fixed in upright position the screw-spindle B, whereby the seat is supported in connection with the hollow base standard 13. The standard is provided with an internal ledge or bearing-seat b, which supports a threaded gear-nut O, in which the screw-spindle B is fitted, so that rotation of said nut will effect elevation of the seat. A shaft 0, beveled gear 0 and crank O are provided for rotating the gear 0, said shaft being supported in a projecting bearing formed upon one side of thebase. The crank C fits onto the end of the shaft 0, so as to be detachable therefrom at pleasure. The cap-plate b of the base-standard is best provided with a downwardly-projecting part 0 that serves as a guard for preventing the gear 0 lifting from its seat b. The cap'plat-e b is secured firmly to the top of the base-standard by means of screws or other suitable fastening and forms a guide for the spindle B, and also serves for inclosing and protecting the gearing from accumulation of dust and exposure of the oiled surfaces. The seatb serves as a guide for the lower part of the screwspindle as well as a support for the gear-nu t, and being bored on a line with the opening in the cap-plate when the latter is in place givesa support that sustains the spindle very accurately, While permitting its free adjustment; and prevents shaking or looseness of the chair in its base. It also affords a con struction that can be made with ease and facility in the manufacture.

The base-standard is provided with four feet, two of which are rigid therewith, while the other two are self-regulating to accommodate the irregularities in the floor or surface on which the chair stands. The forward foot-plate B is cast with or rigidly connected to the upright part of the base by means of bolts or otherwise, while the rear feet B are cast integral with each other, but are provided with central hinging-ears and are connected to the fore foot-plate or base proper by a hinging-joint, as at If, so. that said rear feet can have a limited rocking action on an axis perpendicular to the axis of the screwspindle and base-standard, (see Figs. 1, 7, and 8,) thus permitting the feet to adjust themselves to any floor-surface, so that all four of the feet will rest firmly and support the chair .solidly and securely, notwithstanding irregularities in the floor-surface. The forward feet B are preferably provided with casters or rolls 4", as indicated.

For confining the screw-spindle and body of the chair from revolving in the base I employ a clutch-and-binder mechanism consisting of an eXternally-conoidal annulus or sectional clutch-ring D, that surrounds said spindle and rests upon the cap-plate of the base or upon any other suitable support. A binder plate or leverD, having a central opening, fits over the conical clasp-sections and binds them together, one end of the plate being confined to the base-head by a screw (1 and its opposite end connected by a link at with a cam-lever d which acts, in connection with.

a lug 61 formed on the side of the base, for drawing down said binder-plate, and thereby forcing the conical sections against the surface of the screw-spindle. The top end of the link dis best screw-threaded and provided with an adjusting-nut d for regulating the action, so that the binder will give just the proper degree of pressure required for holding the spindle. A spring (1 is best arranged beneath the binder-lever D for lifting it and releasing the clutch when the cam-lever is swung upward. The cam-lever can be conveniently moved by the toe of the operator whenever it is desired to effect adjustment in the height or rotation of the seat.

On the back of the seat-plate A, I provide a projecting arm which carries a contractile socket (1, containing a sectional ball-j oint T, that supports the sliding rod E of the back. The rod E and back-cushion F are connected to each other by a hinging-joint atf, which permits of the back being adjusted to any position within the range of the hinge, the ad justment being controlled by the thu mb-screw f for holding it as desired. The hingingpiece at f preferably consists of an openframe bracket, as indicated in Fig. 5, having a split socket that embraces a transverse cylindrical head e, firmly screwed upon the end of the rod E, the thumb-screwfclosing said socket thereon tohold the adjustment. The back-cushion F is also provided with a socket G, in which is held a removable bracket or arm H, carrying a contractile socket h and sectional ball 25, that supports a slide-rod I,

carrying at its upperend an adjustable headrest Z. The head-rest Z is connected to the rod I by a .hinging-joint at z', composed of an eye or socket which embraces a cylindrical head 2' fixed on the end of the rod, the parts being held 'at any position of adjustment by the thumb-screw 1 which closes the socket of the hinge upon said cylindrical head, substantially as shown in Figs. 1 and 2. The support-bracket H has a swinging lateral adjustment about the axis of its supportingshank in the socket G, while the head-rest has a swinging adjustment in an upright plane at the hinge 2'; also, upward, downward, universal, and rotative adjustment are afforded by the sliding of the rod throughthe ball and the movement of the sectional ballt in the joint-socket h. The back F has similar range of adjustments in connection with the rod E, the sectional ball T, and its jointsocket a.

The sectional ball and contractile socketjoints at a and h are constructed substantially as described in my Letters Patent No. 259,957 to afford universal a justment for the rods E and I, which can be severally clamped or released by a single movement of the operating-levers a and h. The bracket H is clamped in the socket G by the thumbscrew g, by loosening which said bracket, together with the head-rest, can be conveniently detached from the back and the back used without the head-rest, or, if desired, other ap pliances can be introduced and supported in the socket G in connection with the back. In practice I design to employ certain other appliances interchangeably with the head rest bracket H. The open bracket f permits of the part H or other appliances being inserted through the socket G without interfering with said bracket. An important feature of my invention is the shifting arms arranged in a manner to be adjusted to any desired position, while maintaining the inner face of said arms always toward the front or seat, affording adjustment without reversal of the position of the arm. This allows of the arms being properly curved and shaped to conform to the sides of the seat and also permits of the arms being adjusted over or to one side of the seat or outward to form a sofa-back without exhibiting stiffness or disagreeable appearance. These improved arms M are arranged in connection with swinging supports attached or adj ustably secured on the seat or body of the chairin suitable manner for effecting adjustments, as hereinafter explained.

In connection with the seat-plate A, I employ bearing-sockets J, that support upright rods K, that carry arm-supporting brackets K at their upper ends. These sockets J are best formed on an auxiliary plate j, that joins the one to the other, which plate is detachably connected with the seat-plate A by bolts j,

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as indicated. By removing the boltj the plate, together with the sockets, can be entirely removed from the seat, so that the chair can be used without the same if in any case preferred, or this appliance can be put onto the chair at any time, if required. The armbearing sockets J and seat-supporting plate A can in some instances, if desired, be formed the rod K and have at their outer ends the.

arm-hinging joints or clamping-sockets K The arm M is sustained on the bracket K by a joint or pivot at m, which allows rotative adjustment of the arm in a horizontal plane, such adjustment being controlled or held at any position bya thumb-screw Z or other suit able clamping device. made, as shown, with an under supportingplate M to which the joint, hinge, or piyot m is fixed, and with a top or bearing plate h to which the finish or upholstery frame of the arm is fixed. The plate M is slotted, and the plate M is made longitudinally adjustable thereon,so that the arm can be extended endwise or drawn back, as required, the extensible parts beingretained at position of adj ust ment by the thumb-screw 171'.

By the construction and arrangement of parts as here shown it will be seen that the arms M can be adjusted to any desired positions, raised or lowered by sliding the rods K up and down in the sockets J, and carried farther from or nearer to each other, or to a backward-and-forward position, by swinging their support-brackets K or rotating theupright rods K in their sockets, while the arms can also be swung inward or outward on their pivots or connecting-joints. The upholstered portion can be extended or retracted by the adjustment of the plate M upon the plate M or the arms can be entirely detached by lifting the rods K from their sockets J. The size of the chair can thus beincreased or diminished to conform to the size of the sitter, so that it will not appear to be out of proportion in the photo-picture, or by lateral and parallel adjustment of the arms they may be carried over, so as to accommodate the sitting at the extreme side of the seat. It will also be observed that the back of the chair, having universal adjustment at its connection with the seat, can be raised or lowered and adjusted from side to side or forward and back over and from the seat.

The back-cushion F can be tilted or turned up into horizontal position to be itself used The arms M are best as a seat for children, or for supporting draperies, or to be used as a leaning-stand or for other purposes when desired.

The head supporting rest, in connection With the back, can be used for sustaining the head at any position in which it is possible to eifect a pose, and all adjustments are easily and quickly effected, and can be arranged by first placing the sitter in the position desired for the pose, then bringing the proper part of the chair to position for supporting such pose, and securing the adjustment by the appropriate clam ping devices, thus fitting the chair to the person instead of making the person conform to the chair.

It will be understood that some features of my invention maybe employed without the 'otl1ersas, for instance, the adjustable arms; or the adjustable back-support, as herein shown, can in some instances be employed in a chair having a non-adjustable base; or, again, this adjustable base can be employed in chairs having other constructions of back and arms than that illustrated. I include such use within the scope of my invention.

I am aware that chairs have heretofore been provided with screws and gear mechanism for eifecting elevation by aid of a crank, and hence I do not broadly claim such feature. Neither do I claim, broadly, an adjustable back for a chair irrespective of the construction and mode of operation of the mechanism whereby adjustment is effected.

I claim as my invention herein, to be secured by Letters Patent- 1. In combination with the chair-seat and seat-supporting spindle, the column-standard provided with the rigidly-attached foot-plate B having laterally-extended feet, with a 7 hinging-boss disposed beneath the rear part of the column, and the adjustable foot-plate 13", having the laterally-extended feet and connected with said boss by the central hingin g-joint 11 that affords only a limited rocking action for said rear foot-plate, substantially as shown and described.

2. The eXternally-conoidal sectional clutchring D, with horizontal seating-surface for its support adjacent to the chair-seat spindle, and a clamping-plate or binder having an opening that embraces the conical surfaces of the several clutch-ring sections, in combination with the chair-spindle B, base-standard B, and means for pressing said binder onto the conoidal sections in longitudinal direction for contracting said sectional clutchring about said spindle Without varying the axial alignment thereof, substantially as set forth.

3. The externally-conoidal sectional clasp or ring having the fiat-bottom surface, the binder-plate having an opening that fits over said clasp, the adjustable fulcrum-stud cl, the link cl, and a depressing foot-lever D, in combination with the screw-threaded chairspindle, the base provided with the lug d ITO and cap W, with a flat supportingsurface for said ring-sections adjacent to said spindle, substantially as and for the purpose set forth.

4:. In combination with the chair-supportin g standard provided with the horizontal capplate or top surface and having the lug (l projecting from the side of said standard, the chair-seat spindle, conoidal sectional ring D, supported on said top surface adjacent to and surrounding said seat-supporting spindle, the binder-plate D, the link d, provided with the cam-lever d pivoted to one of its ends for engagement beneath the lug cl and screwthreaded at its opposite end, and the nut df, fitted upon the screw-threaded end of said link, substantially as shown and described.

5. The combination, with the horizontal base-cap, the vertical seat-supporting spindle B, and the externally-conoidal sectional clutch-ring seated upon said base-cap and its sections independently movable toward or from the spindle, of the binder or presser lever provided with an opening embracing said clutching-sections. the fulcrum-stud d, the link joined to said binder by an adjustable connection, the cam-lever pivoted to the end of said link, and the spring (1 disposed beneath said binder-lever for exerting upward pressure or retaining it in elevated position, substantially as set forth.

6. The combination, substantially as hereinbefore described, with the chair-seat and adjustable back-support, of the pivoted arms, each mounted upon a separate horizontallyswinging bracket carried by an independent pivoted supporter or uprightrod adj ustably retained in connection with the seat-frame, said supporters disposed at opposite sides of and unconnected with the .back,affording for each arm independently two points of horizontal pivotal action, whereby said arms are laterally adjustable in relation to the seat to positions parallel with and at variable distances from the central axis of the seat or radially at any angle, means, substantially as described, for confining said supporter-rods at positions of adjustment in relation to the seat-frame, and means for retaining the said arms at positions of adjustment in relation to their supporters, as and for the purpose set forth.

7. The combination, substantially as described, of the chair-arms, each composed of the slotted plate M carrying the pivot m, slide-plateM ,longitudinallyadjustablethereon, its clamp device m and upholstery fixed to said slide-plate, the two upright supportrods for the respective arms, having the offset bracket K, with socket K and clamp device for holding the arm-pivot, the rod-bearin g sockets J, with clamp-screw n, attached to the chair-seat body A, and theback-supports attached to the seat-frame between the armsupporters by the universally adjustable clamping-joint, all substantially as set forth.

8. The combination of the chair-arms, the two vertical supporting-rods, each having an offset head K fixed thereon, provided With a socket K for receivingtlle arm-pivot, the seatframe A,provided with the central back-supporting socket, and two supporting-sockets J for the rods K, fixed to said seat-frame and disposed at either side thereof, all substantially as and for the purpose set forth.

9. The adjustable back-cushion F, hinged to its support, as atf, and provided with the socket G, in combination with the detachable carrying appliance I-l, having a shank that slips into and from said socket, the clampscrew 9 for holding the same, the head-rest bar adjustable in the detachable appliance H, and the back-support E, substantially as set forth.

10. The back-hinging bracket f, having an open center that permits extension of a rod or shank through the hinge-piece, in combination with the back-cushion F, the socket G, fixed to said back-cushion, and the detachable appliance H, having a shank that fits into and is supported by said socket, the back-supporting rod E, and means for attaching said rod to the chair-seat frame, substantially as set forth.

OTIS C. V HITE.

Witnesses:

CHAS. H. BURLEIGH, ELLA P. BLENUs. 

